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Biomedical subjects

Peter Schmitt

Publications and source records attributed to Peter Schmitt.

6 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Inversion recovery TrueFISP: quantification of T(1), T(2), and spin density.

A novel procedure is proposed to extract T(1), T(2), and relative spin density from the signal time course sampled with a series of TrueFISP images after spin inversion. Generally, the recovery of the magnetization during continuous TrueFISP imaging can be described in good approximation by a three parameter monoexponential function S(t) = S(stst)(1-INV exp(-t/T(*) (1)). This apparent relaxation time T(*) (1) <or= T(1) depends on the flip angle as well as on both T(1) and T(2). Here, it is shown that the ratio T(1)/T(2) can be directly extracted from the inversion factor INV, which describes the relation of the signal value extrapolated to t = 0 and the steady-state signal. Analytical expressions are given for the derivation of T(1), T(2), and relative spin density directly from the fit parameters. Phantom results show excellent agreement with single point reference measurements. In human volunteers T(1), T(2), and spin density maps in agreement with literature values were obtained.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2004

Impact of hypoxia and the metabolic microenvironment on radiotherapy of solid tumors. Introduction of a multi-institutional research project.

BACKGROUND: Recent developments in imaging technology and tumor biology have led to new techniques to detect hypoxia and related alterations of the metabolic microenvironment in tumors. However, whether these new methods can predict radiobiological hypoxia and outcome after fractionated radiotherapy still awaits experimental evaluation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present article will introduce a multi-institutional research project addressing the impact of hypoxia and the metabolic microenvironment on radiotherapy of solid tumors. The four laboratories involved are situated at the universities of Dresden, Mainz, Munich and Würzburg, Germany. RESULTS: The joint scientific project started to collect data obtained on a set of ten different human tumor xenografts growing in nude mice by applying various imaging techniques to detect tumor hypoxia and related parameters of the metabolic microenvironment. These techniques include magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy, metabolic mapping with quantitative bioluminescence and single-photon imaging, histological multiparameter analysis of biochemical hypoxia, perfusion and vasculature, and immunohistochemistry of factors related to angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis. To evaluate the different methods, baseline functional radiobiological data including radiobiological hypoxic fraction and outcome after fractionated irradiation will be determined. CONCLUSION: Besides increasing our understanding of tumor biology, the project will focus on new, clinically applicable strategies for microenvironment profiling and will help to identify those patients that might benefit from targeted interventions to improve tumor oxygenation.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Towards a single-sequence neurologic magnetic resonance imaging examination: multiple-contrast images from an IR TrueFISP experiment.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to reconstruct images bearing multiple contrasts from a single sequence magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) experiment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a segmented IR-TrueFISP imaging sequence, the signal recovery after inversion and alpha/2 preparation was sampled in 6 volunteers. These images were used to generate T1, T2, and spin-density maps, allowing construction of images with multiple contrasts, including T1-, T2-, spin-density-weighted, and also FLAIR contrast. Traditionally acquired images bearing the corresponding contrast were obtained for comparison. Regression analysis was performed to compare the synthetic and traditionally acquired images for the whole brain and a region of interest in the occipital region. RESULTS: The synthetic images closely reproduced the contrast from the "standard" examination. Using regression analysis, the obtained image signal intensities for the calculated images compare favorably (P <0.0001-<<0.000001) with images acquired using multiple sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Perfectly registered images with any desired contrast based on T1, T2, and spin density, along with underlying quantitative maps, can be obtained using a single IR-TrueFISP sequence.

Brain↗
PubMed2003

Quantitative tissue perfusion measurements in head and neck carcinoma patients before and during radiation therapy with a non-invasive MR imaging spin-labeling technique.

PURPOSE: Tumor blood flow, tumor tissue perfusion and oxygen supply have substantial influence on the responsiveness of tumors to radiotherapy. This study was aimed at implementing and evaluating a non-invasive functional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging spin-labeling technique at a main magnetic field strength of 2T for measuring tissue perfusion changes in head and neck carcinoma patients before and during radiotherapy. METHODS: Tissue perfusion was determined quantitatively in ten patients with head and neck cancer. Five patients were investigated twice during radiation therapy. For perfusion measurements, a non-invasive MR spin-labeling technique was employed: The longitudinal relaxation time T(1) was measured with segmented Snapshot-FLASH imaging after either slice-selective or non-selective spin inversion. Perfusion values were calculated pixelwise employing a two-compartment tissue model. With this technique no contrast agents are required so that repetitive measurements are possible. Perfusion images with a slice thickness of 10mm and an in-plane resolution of 1.9x2.8mm(2) were acquired at a total scan time of 8:30min per scan. RESULTS: With the non-invasive MR imaging technique it was possible to visualize tumor and normal tissue perfusion as well as perfusion changes in the course of radiotherapy with a spatial resolution of less than 3mm. Among the investigated subjects measured tumor perfusion and changes in perfusion were heterogenous. In 4/5 patients studied at the start and end of radiotherapy, perfusion decreased, while in one patient there was an increase. CONCLUSIONS: A method is presented that allows non-invasive and repetitive characterization of tissue perfusion. This parameter may be used for treatment stratification, especially in treatments that use vasomodulation or anti-angiogenic agents.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

Microscopic spin tagging (MiST) for flow imaging.

In this study, a new strategy for slow flow imaging is proposed. The basic idea is to generate flow contrast on a microscopic level below the spatial resolution of an imaging experiment. Since a microscopic spin tagging scheme is used, this concept is called MiST (Microscopic Spin Tagging). MiST is not a single specific measurement sequence, but rather a new flow sensitive preparation concept which is highly flexible and can be carried out in many ways. The common principle in all possible realizations of MiST is a periodic tagging of magnetization in thin planes (100-200 microm) within the imaging voxels by means of spatially selective RF-pulses. Therefore, flow sensitivity occurs via inflow of fresh spins on a microscopic scale. With this approach, short evolution times are sufficient to introduce inflow contrast and a spatial dependence of inflow times is avoided. The flow sensitive preparation and image orientation are also not connected as they are in conventional time-of-flight techniques. Another powerful feature of MiST is that it can be designed as a non-subtraction method, which results in no signal from stationary spins. Here we present a first realization of the MiST concept and its validation in quantitative flow measurements to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed preparation concept.

Arteries↗